Got my heads back from K&M

chuckbrandt · #1 (**permalink**) 08-13-2003, 12:02 AM

These are the C4AE-G castings which I had them install larger CJ sized stainless valves and do a little pocket porting.

All in all I'm happy with the service. I didn't effectively communicate about the valve stem steals, they put on some fairly cheap ones. But I have the cutter to install crane ones so I'll do that myself later.

I ended up getting some "upgrades" too which added to the cost. They needed to replace my guides, I decided to get hardened exhaust seats, and they decided I needed spring cups. Total bill was just over $750 (up from $400) so that makes me question the economy of just buying edelbrocks and not fooling around with iron heads. But the geezer in me still thinks these iron heads are cool.

The larger CJ valve install and pocket porting look great to me. They mostly smoothed the area right below the valve down to but not into the guide area. They left the short side mostly alone which I was glad to see, I think you can take too much out there and make flow worse. The now larger exhaust valve seems kinda shrouded in the combustion chamber. Not sure yet if I will want to risk the valvejob to try to improve that myself or not. Would be pretty embarassing to go back and ask them to fix it if I jack it up

.

Anyway, I'll post pictures of them tomorrow when I can do it in the daylight. I really want to get some time on a flow bench and see what these and my medium riser heads flow like. I think that guy at nolands will flow test heads for $60 or something like that.

More later, Chuck

chuckbrandt · #2 (**permalink**) 08-13-2003, 09:33 AM

jayhawk261 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-13-2003, 10:16 AM

Kevin and Nate over at K&M do FANTASTIC work. Kevin has been working on ford stuff for years. I won't take my stuff to anyone else. They have always done great work for me and taught me alot about engines. I started using them with my first engine and Kevin helped me through it and several others. He was always willing to sit down and tell me what I was doing that was wrong and what was good. Kudos on your selection of a amchine shop. you should be very happy!